Jaguar Land Rover reveals AV future

Project Vector is a new concept vehicle unveiled by Jaguar Land Rover as part of the company’s Destination Zero journey, its vision of an autonomous, electric, connected future for urban mobility.

The concept showcases an advanced, flexible, multi-use electric vehicle that is ‘autonomy-ready’, with an on-road pilot programme planned from 2021 in Coventry, England.

“Project Vector shows Jaguar Land Rover as a leader in innovation to make our societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner,” JLR chief executive Sir Ralf Speth says.

“Through this project, we are collaborating with the brightest minds in academia, supply chain and digital services, to create connected, integrated mobility systems – the fundamental building blocks for Destination Zero.”

The compact, flexible vehicle concept is four metres long and is designed for the city, packaging all its battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor to allow a variety of uses.

The interior cabin space allows seating configurations for private or shared use and even the opportunity for commercial applications, such as last mile deliveries.

The concept AV has been developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre, newly opened by the Prince of Wales, to gain the advantages of working with agility and close collaboration with academic and external partners.

It will also address the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.

“The megatrends of urbanisation and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable,” project director Dr Tim Leverton says.

“Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with and be connected to public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously. That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure and the digital world.

“Future urban travel will be a composite of owned and shared vehicles, access to ride hailing and on-demand services as well as public transport. Our vision shows the vehicle as a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes.”

Jaguar Land Rover intends collaborating with the Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to plan a mobility service from late 2021, as a living laboratory for future mobility on Coventry streets.